Adopt-a-Shell: Give a Former Tiny House, a New Home.
Each of these seashells was once home to a little creature, on the shores of, or on the bottom of local coastal waters.
Now each of them has been given a fresh coat of interior decoration, with their outsides left mostly untouched, showing the story and beauty of where they have been.
If you would like to give one a loving home, or if you know someone who would be thrilled to have them, please: click on your favourite shells and find out their story and adoption details. Proceed portions go to marine education, conservation and research. Postage is free. (Sometimes a few requests for the same shell are received, so I will request payment only from the person who 'got' the shell. Thank you xo)

Day 19 Part Two: Mermaid

Days 18 & 19
Hammerhead shark and mermaid. NZD 31 each. RESERVED.
I opened up this mussel last Saturday during my shift at the marine discovery centre to feed the sea creatures in our rockpool touch tank.
I was struck by the natural colours, texture and beauty of these valves and knew I'd be painting it as a pair.
Chatting with shark conservationist and writer Kathryn Curzon led to her suggestion of painting a shark and a mermaid. Her favourite colours are magenta and turquoise, so it was fun realising there was a natural pink-purple and aqua sheen to the outer edges of the nacre, after I finished the mermaid and put the shell under a stronger light in my current beautifully cosy and dimly lit housesit.
The concept of mermaids has no extrinsic and rational place in most people's daily lives. And yet it represents to me that which we do not yet understand but somehow must believe in to take those little or big steps into what seems unknown at the time. Besides, the logo of the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology has mermaids on it. Fun :) Love this shell, and want to give it a new home? Send an email (Subject: Seashells) to [email protected] to find out more details.
Orders are on a first-come, first-served basis.
You will be sent payment information only if you got the shell.